PORT ADELAIDE chief executive officer Matthew Richardson says the club has a responsibility to carry on Russell Ebert’s community work, following the South Australian football great’s passing on Friday.
Ebert died at home surrounded by his family, eleven months after being diagnosed with leukemia.
The 72-year-old leaves behind his wife Di, children Ben, Tammy and Brett and a much-loved extended family.
Speaking at Alberton on Saturday, Mr Richardson expressed his condolences to the Ebert family and paid tribute to arguably the club’s greatest ever player.
“When I think of Russell I think of three incredible legacies – family, football and community,” the CEO said.
“Above anything else Russell was proud of his beautiful family. His beautiful wife Di, Tammy, Ben, Brett and their families. His wonderful grandkids. He would light up when he talked about his grandkids, and also his siblings who I know, particularly this year given the challenges that Russell and the family have been through, have meant a lot to him.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and condolences are with Russell and his family.”
The club’s games record holder with 392 games, Ebert’s accolades are plentiful.
He won a record four Magarey Medals as the best and fairest player in the SANFL competition along with three premierships and six club best and fairest awards.
He represented the state 29 times and spent a year playing in the VFL with North Melbourne where he was the leading disposal winner.
While those records are widely recognised, Mr Richardson explained it was off the field where Ebert’s work was extraordinary.
“His record as a footballer has no peer but then to go on and devote the best part of 40 years of his life to the community and those people less fortunate than him is extraordinary,” he said.
“Passions close to his heart – the Crippled Children’s Association into Novita and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. At the Port Adelaide Football Club, we’ve been so fortunate that Russell established our community programs 20 years ago. Again, he was ahead of his time.
“His enduring legacy is the role that football can play in changing and impacting people’s lives and that is probably the thing that elevates Russell above any because of the ongoing impact he has had and will continue to have on the community.
“Our great responsibility now as the custodians of the club is to continue the work he laid the foundation for in terms of impacting the community beyond football and using football as a powerful tool to improve people’s lives.”
Mr Richardson worked alongside Ebert for 20 years at Alberton Oval, where floral tributes, images of Ebert in full flight and all forms of football memorabilia have been left in tribute to the fallen football great.
Described as a friend who “never minced his words”, Ebert would call his CEO at least twice a week while he was off work to focus on his health.
Most recently they spoke on Monday morning and typically, Mr Richardson explained, Ebert wanted to see how everyone else was.
“The amazing thing about Russell is that it was never about him,” Mr Richardson explained. “It was always about other people. It was always about what he could do to help others.
“He talked often about his gratitude for what the football club and its supporters had done for him and his family…. He wanted to thank people who made his journey possible.
“He would do anything for anyone. He was always asking how people were. He always had time for them. He was an incredible man.”
Mr Richardson said he would sit down with the Ebert family over the next couple of days to discuss a way to honour Russell Ebert and acknowledge the role he played both in the community and in the club’s history, including the potential for a state funeral.
“The Premier (Steven Marshall) reached out to us late yesterday and made that offer to the family, when they’re ready to have that conversation so, again we’ll do what’s best for the family but it’s terrific that the Premier and the Government have reached out to offer that opportunity.”
